CORA

CHAPTER 4

LEON'S POV

I walked to an oak tree in the night, Then I saw a woman dressed in white gown, the white gown was so transparent I could see her curves through it. I couldn't see her face because she was not facing me. I walked further to see her and then she turned but she had a mask covering her face. I moved further and she mad her first step towards me and that was when I saw her eyes through the mask. It was so beautiful.

The knock on the door woke me up. I stood up feeling so hot. I had slept a little, but I was woke up so many times, my nap wasn't a pleasant one just so restless and the dream I had about the strange woman, I couldn't tell why she was masked.

"Who is that?" I shouted so the person behind the door could hear me.

"Your highness its Orion" he said

Orion is the Leon's personal guard. "What is it Orion?" I asked loud enough for him to hear me

"The king requests that you join him for lunch" Orion said.

I thought I had told Phoebe to inform them I wouldn't be coming in for lunch. Such incompetence, she doesn't seem to do anything right. I'll deal with that later.

"Go and tell my father that I would be joining him for lunch in few minutes" I ordered.

"Yes my prince" Orion said and left. I could hear his loud footsteps till the sound of it became faint and finally stopped.

I got dressed in my plain shirt and breeches and went down to the dinning hall to join my father. The table was set already I was just the only one missing.

"Son what took you so long" my father asked.

"Nothing father, just had a little to do upstairs" I answered.

I sat down at the far end of the table opposite my father. Then one of the guards on stand bu rushed to my side to pour wine into a cup for me.

"The raid still stands Leon" my father said.

"I thought we've discussed this father, the raid is not necessary, we need to concentrate on what's affecting Winslow, instead of putting out resource into frivolities" I said confidently.

"You call killing people who killed your mother frivolities?" He asked.

I could tell he was upset by the last words I made, but I was saying the truth. We had far more important problems to deal with in Winslow other than chasing a group of witches and sorcerers. My father quickly stood up.

"I think I have lost my appetite" he said.

"I'm sorry father I didn't mean it that way" I pleaded.

"Mean whatever you like but Belrom will be raised down to ashes, whether you like it or not" he said with a note of finality and walked out.

This was exactly what I was avoiding, I didn't want to get into another argument with him, but here I was.

I was actually hungry, so I continued eating the chicken breast. I was still eating when Atlas came in and sat just beside me.

I remembered we had to go on our usual town walk, I didn't feel like it today and knowing who Atlas was he would not take no for an answer.

"You want some?" I asked pointing at the food.

"Absolutely" he said grinning.

I called on one of the guards to get a maid bring extra plates for Atlas. After few minutes one of the Maia came in with a set of plate. The look on Atlas's face changed completely, like he had seen a priceless jewel. It was always funny how Maia's presence turned this strong man into a child. He was completely lost and I could tell she was blushing too.

I was eating and at the same time watching them. She reached over to his side and placed the plates on the table. They were both blushing. I noticed the way hi hands caressed hers and it was evident she reacted to it because her cheeks got redder.She left almost immediately. She left blushing too.

Maia and Atlas has always loved each other right from our teenage years. Maia's mum was the cook and she was always around and Atlas was always in some corner of the kitchen with Maia when he wasn't training, hanging out with me or working with his father in their ranch.

They had plans of getting married and raising little Maia and Atlas. I almost envy them, but love was the last thing on my mind right now. I didn't have l love to offer any woman, not after what Kira had done to me.

I had loved Kira with all my heart during my teenage years, I had ensured she didn't lack anything. I showed her with gifts, love and attention. What I didn't know was that she had her eyes else where. She had other lovers and I wasn't the only one. Kira got pregnant and ran off with the father of her child. She left me heartbroken for days. I kept wondering why she did this to me.

I had everything you o make her life beautiful, but she chose a farmer over me and so I hated anything that make me feel like that again. When I was ready, I'll contract a woman to bear me an heir, and love will be totally out of the equation.

"Are you ready for our walk today?" Atlas said staring at me intently.

"I'm tired man, and I don't think I'm ready" I said

"You don't have a choice Leon, we are going" Atlas insisted .

Atlas and I usually took time to go round the village on several occasions. I had so much fun doing it, It was an opportunity to interact with the villagers. When I was younger my father insisted I went with the guards, but now I always insist to go alone with Atlas despite the fact my father was against it.

"Okay, that's fine. Let me quickly finish my food" I said

"Great". Atlas said with a huge grin on his face.

"Now eat up" I said pointing at his plate.

We were still eating when Phoebe walked passed us, she didn't notice us fast, but when she did I noticed she was trying to hide her face and so summoned her.

"Phoebe" I called out.

She was startled, she didn't expect to hear me call her.

"What happened to you? I look like you were engaged in a brawl" I said looking at her

"No... nothing happened to me" she stammered.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes your highness" she replied.

"That's fine. You can go" i said.

Atlas has been trying to hold his laughter for a while, but I guess he couldn't anymore as he laughed loud that he echoed in the dinning hall.

"You may go " I said to Phoebe and then she ran out of the dinning hall embarrassed.

"She doesn't look like everything is fine" I said to laughing Atlas.

Atlas spoke in between laughter.

"Hahaha I think ...haha ... I think she met her match today, she looked defeated....hahahaha" Atlas said.

"What's so funny?" I asked him almost irritated

Atlas must have noticed the look on my face and stopped laughing.

"We should leave now" I said to him.

He stood up and we both headed outside the palace. We had just stepped out of the palace doors, and there was a little commotion in a corner, where some guards were trying to control a mare, the horse seemed so stopped. It freed itself from the rope which was used to hold in and galloped off with the men running behind it and then i noticed a girl in a yellow floral dress running out and it look like she was coming from the garden. She was distracted she did not notice the horse galloping towards her.

If I wasted a second she would be badly injured or even killed by the horse. I thought

So I dashed off in her direction and carried her off, she seemed a little heavy. But it wasn't difficult to lift her out of the way, I lost my balance and I fell and she fell right on top of me. Then the horse ran passed us.

She felt right were she was at that moment, I felt a stir in my groin just by the thought of her on me and the feel of her perfect body against mine, and then she turned the face me. I was dumbfounded.

Those eyes!! Like in my dream. I thought

They were so captivating and so I got lost in them just like I was in my dream. She suddenly stood up, dusted herself and mumbled a not so loud appreciation.

"Thank you" I heard

And she dashed off. I watched her leave and took note of every movement she made.

"Are you okay?" Atlas asked

Then I realized I was staring. "Yes. I'm...i'm fine" I stuttered.

"A captivating woman does that to you"Atlas said as he helped me up, I didn't want him to think I was affected by that encounter.

"That's rubbish" I said dusting the dirt on my pants.

Atlas didn't seem convinced at all, he just tapped me and said.

"We should get going"

And we went out for our walk.